Aim: We investigated methylation of DNA repetitive sequences (LINE-1 and BAGE) in peripheral blood leukocytes from first-episode schizophrenia (FES) patients and healthy controls (HCs) with respect to childhood adversities.
Materials & methods: Patients were divided into two subgroups based on the history of childhood trauma - FES(+) and FES(-) subjects. The majority of HCs had a negative history of childhood trauma - HCs(-) subjects.
Results: FES(+) patients had significantly lower LINE-1 methylation in comparison with FES(-) patients or HC(-) subjects. Emotional abuse and total trauma score predicted lower LINE-1 methylation in FES patients, while general trauma score was associated with lower BAGE methylation in HCs.
Conclusion: Childhood adversities might be associated with global DNA hypomethylation in adult FES patients.
Keywords: BAGE; DNA methylation; LINE-1; childhood trauma; first-episode schizophrenia; repetitive DNA sequences; stress.